In a bid to encourage students who wish to pursue PhD, the HRD ministry had relaxed the UGC norms by implementing distance PhD courses under open universities including IGNOU.

Following the meeting with HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar and the vice chancellor of IGNOU alongside 14 open universities, the Union Grant Commission (UGC) had finally determined to allow distance courses for PhD in non-technical courses.

Points to know

"PhDs have been allowed in subjects like humanities, social sciences," the HRD minister said adding that the UGC's regulations of 2016 regarding PhDs will be applicable in this regard

A senior IGNOU official said that PhD courses were offered till a few years ago but they were discontinued. However, after the recent circular they would commence again, the official said

Although, open universities will now offer distance PhD courses, the Union Grant Commission had made it very clear that the universities had to abide by its regulation. And by regulation, it means, students had to undertake six months of work courses like that of the regular courses

Office going individual, who wish to pursue PhD, can now pursue under distance education. According to UGC, students who pursue PhD in non-technical courses did not necessarily required laboratories and practical exams

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi has also invited applications for admission into Distance Post basic Bachelor of Science (BSc) Nursing program for the session 2017. The interested candidates can apply on or before September 9.